Stacey Panousopoulos
Executive Director
In their own words
Gathering and feeding people is innate in Greek culture and very much innate in me. I love cooking.
I didn’t trust that about myself for a very long time and wish that I had leaned into it earlier when I became a manager.
Every year when some of my board members fulfill their tenure, I cry. I cry hard. I cry because I’ll miss seeing and working with them.
Women make up a significant portion of design graduates and practitioners, yet those numbers don't correspond in leadership. Women of colour have faced, and continue to face, compounding barriers in the field.
Don't wait until you feel completely ready to take on a leadership role. Readiness is a moving target, and it often looks different for women than for their peers. The work will stretch you. That's the point.
This project isn't about starting something new, it's about actively showcasing what we're already doing so well.
This new identity is more than just a logo, it's a reflection of who we are as a chapter and as a community.
Articles & interviews
- Stacey Panousopoulos on Creativity, Community, and Cooking
PRINT Magazine’s 'What Matters' series features Stacey Panousopoulos, Executive Director of AIGA NY, in a reflective interview by Debbie Millman. Panousopoulos discusses her love of cooking, community building, and the emotional connections that drive her leadership in the New York design scene. The piece highlights her empathy, friendships, and cultural roots as central to her creative and professional life.
- The women who rewrote what creative leadership looks like
The article explores how women leaders have shaped AIGA NY over four decades, redefining creative leadership through collaboration, empathy, and community-building. Featuring voices like Sarah Williams, Stacey Panousopoulos, and Jennifer Kinon, it highlights how female-led models have challenged traditional hierarchies and created more inclusive structures in design. The piece positions AIGA NY as a living example of sustained, generational leadership evolution.
- AIGA NY unveils new identity rooted in community and New York's creative energy
AIGA NY, the largest chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, has unveiled a new identity and strategic direction focused on community and New York’s creative energy. Designed by Christopher Guerrero with support from Raven Mo, the refreshed logo and system emphasize inclusivity, dialogue, and the city’s rhythm. The update marks a major milestone in the chapter’s 43-year history and reaffirms its civic role in the design community.